However, a much stronger cause is the cumulative effect of sun damage over the years. The skin here is almost always uncovered, meaning it’s always getting the most exposure to solar radiation, even on overcast days. Wearing sunscreen around the clock simply isn’t practical, so heavy face aging will strike almost everyone at some point. When it does, a lot of people opt for a facelift to turn back the clock.
Popular among both sexes, a facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, will greatly reduce wrinkles, tighten the skin and deliver clear, pronounced visual anti-aging effects. When performed in combination with other facial procedures like blepharoplasty or chemical peels, they can deliver outstanding results. If you’re experiencing deep lines or folds running from the corner of your nose to the edge of your mouth, jowls or the loss of a clear jawline, sagging or deep wrinkles in the cheeks or anywhere else, or loose skin and excess fatty tissue in the neck, then a facelift can fix it.
Why Facelifts are the Best Option
For most people, the first line of defence has always been one of the many anti-aging creams on the market. Unfortunately, these aren’t effective solutions for a number of reasons.
- Many simply don’t work. Always read the fine print and be aware of what they promise. When you buy anti-aging cream, it can be difficult to know whether you’re getting makeup or medicine. Even the highest end and most clinically effective creams still very limited in what they can accomplish. Facelifts, by contrast, will deliver nearly immediate results. Thanks to recent Vectra 3D imaging technology, your surgeon can clearly show exactly what a facelift can accomplish. This is included in all obligation-free facial consultation sessions.
- They’re far more expensive than a facelift. Some of the higher-end face creams can cost hundreds of dollars per container, and even many of the less pricey variations can still make almost anyone think twice about whether it’s worth it. To make matters worse, these are a never ending, ongoing expense that can quickly build up to thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, because they can’t guarantee results, odds are that any given product simply will not be long-term value for money. Facelifts however, are a one-time expense that delivers lasting and medically guaranteed results every time.
- They have side effects, allergies and other issues. There are countless instances of people suffering severe reactions from face creams, as their complex and widely varied ingredients lists mean it’s not unusual for you to discover allergies you didn’t know you had. The odds of this occurring are very small, but it still happens hundreds of times a year. Facelifts and other cosmetic procedures are backed up by extensive safety checks, with complete analysis of medical history and allergies, making them a generally safer option.
Is it right for me?
Facelift surgery is a highly individualised procedure and may not be suitable for everyone. Always talk to your Specialist Plastic Surgeon before making a decision. Your surgeon will assess your condition and general health, and plan the treatment that is best suited to you.
Before you decide on facelift surgery, there are some important issues to keep in mind:
- While a facelift should make you look younger, it will not raise sagging eyebrows, remove deep frown lines in the forehead, change your upper or lower eyelids, or get rid of wrinkles around the mouth. Other forms of treatment may be more appropriate for you
- Suture facelift, or thread lifting, is best suited for younger and middle-aged patients whose tissues have sagged with time or sun damage. It is not recommended for people with very thin or dry skin. Your surgeon will need to assess your individual suitability for this type of treatment
- The results of a facelift usually last between five and twelve years. Most people can have two to three facelifts in a lifetime, depending on the extent of each procedure and the amount of scarring that occurs with each facelift
- Facelift surgery does not “stop the clock” of ageing. The normal ageing process will continue after the surgery
- Smokers are at increased risk of complications. If you are serious about undergoing surgery, you should quit smoking
Facelift surgery may not be a good option for you if you are:
- Not able to have an anaesthetic
- Prone to bleeding tendencies or have poor healing ability
- Too high risk of having surgical complications
Facelift surgery may be a good option for you if:
- You have sagging in the mid-face
- You have deep creases below the lower eyelids
- You have deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth
- You have fat that has fallen or is displaced
- You have loss of muscle tone in the lower face which may create jowls
- You have loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw, creating the appearance of a double chin
- You are physically healthy and you do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery
- You have realistic expectations of what face lift surgery can accomplish
- You are a non-smoker or have stopped smoking
